CV322: Week 13

Lecture Notes 1
HYDRAULIC
STRUCTURES
by
Dr Alvin Lal
 Recap of Week 12
Hydraulic Structures :

1. Dams (Covered)
2. Weirs (Covered)
3. Flumes (Covered)
4. Spillways
5. Hydraulic gates
6. Drainage
Lecture 1 : SPILLWAYS
 Spillways
● Spillways are structures constructed to provide safe release of flood
waters from a dam to a downstream area, normally the river on which
the dam has been constructed.
● Every reservoir has a certain capacity to store water. If the reservoir is
full and flood waters enter the same, the reservoir level will go up and
may eventually result in over-topping of the dam.
● To avoid this situation, the flood has to be passed to the downstream
and this is done by providing a spillway which draws water from the top
of the reservoir. A spillway can be a part of the dam or separate from it.
● Spillways can be controlled or uncontrolled. A controlled spillway is
provided with gates which can be raised or lowered. Controlled
spillways have certain advantages as will be clear from the discussion
that follows.
Spillways
Spillways
 Spillways Cont.
● When a reservoir is full, its water level will be the same as the crest level of the
spillway.
● This is the normal reservoir level. If a flood enters the reservoir at this time, the
water level will start going up and simultaneously water will start flowing out
through the spillway.
● The top of the dam will have to be higher than the maximum reservoir level
corresponding to the design flood for the spillway, while the effective storage
available is only up to the normal reservoir level.
● The storage available between the maximum reservoir level and the normal
reservoir level is called the surcharge storage and is only a temporary storage
in uncontrolled spillways
● In a controlled spillway, water can be stored even above the spillway crest level
by keeping the gates closed. The gates can be opened when a flood has to be
passed.
 Parameters considered in Designing Spillways
Controlled spillways allow more storage for the same height of the dam.
Many parameters need consideration in designing a spillway. These
include:
1. The inflow design flood hydro-graph
2. The type of spillway to be provided and its capacity
3. The hydraulic and structural design of various components and
4. The energy dissipation downstream of the spillway.
5. The topography, hydrology, hydraulics, geology and economic
considerations all have a bearing on these decisions. For a given inflow
flood hydro graph, the maximum rise in the reservoir level depends on
the discharge characteristics of the spillway crest and its size and can
be obtained by flood routing. Trial with different sizes can then help in
getting the optimum combination.
 Types of Spillways - Classification of
Spillways
● There are different types of spillways that can be provided depending
on the suitability of site and other parameters. Generally a spillway
consists of a control structure, a conveyance channel and a terminal
structure, but the former two may be combined in the same for certain
types. The more common types are briefly discussed in this Lecture.:
 Ogee Spillway
 Chute (Trough) Spillway
 Side Channel Spillway
 Shaft (Morning Glory or Glory hole) Spillway
 Siphon Spillway
 Free Over-Fall Spillway
 Tunnel Spillway
 Types of Spillways - Ogee Spillway
● The Ogee spillway is generally provided in rigid dams and forms a part of
the main dam itself if sufficient length is available. The crest of the spillway
is shaped to conform to the lower nappe of a water sheet flowing over an
aerated sharp crested weir.
Types of Spillways - Chute (Trough) Spillway
 Types of Spillways - Chute (Trough) Spillway
● In this type of spillway, the water, after flowing over a short crest or other
kind of control structure, is carried by an open channel (called the "chute"
or "trough") to the downstream side of the river.
● The control structure is generally normal to the conveyance channel. The
channel is constructed in excavation with stable side slopes and invariably
lined. The flow through the channel is supercritical.
● The spillway can be provided close to the dam or at a suitable saddle
away from the dam where site conditions permit.
 Types of Spillways - Chute (Trough) Spillway
The chute spillway is ideally suited with earth-fill dams because of:
(i) The simplicity of their design and construction,
(ii) Their adaptability to all types of foundation ranging from solid rock to soft
clay, and
(iii) Overall economy usually obtained by the use of large amounts of spillway
excavation for the construction of embankment. The chute spillway is also
suitable for concrete dams constructed in narrow valleys across a river whose
bed is erodible for which ogee spillway becomes unsuitable.
Types of Spillways - Side Channel Spillway
 Types of Spillways - Side Channel Spillway

● Side channel spillways are located just upstream and to the side of the
dam.
● The water after flowing over a crest enters a side channel which is nearly
parallel to the crest.
● This is then carried by a chute to the downstream side. Sometimes a
tunnel may be used instead of a chute.
Types of Spillways - Shaft (Morning Glory or
Glory hole) Spillway
Types of Spillways - Shaft (Morning Glory or
Glory hole) Spillway
● This type of spillway utilizes a crest circular in plan, the flow over which is
carried by a vertical or sloping tunnel on to a horizontal tunnel nearly at the
stream bed level and eventually to the downstream side.
● The diversion tunnels constructed during the dam construction can be
used as the horizontal conduit in many cases. In a shaft spillway, water
enters a horizontal crest, drops through a vertical or sloping shaft and then
flows to the downstream river channel through a horizontal or nearly
horizontal conduit or tunnel.
● A rock outcrop projecting into the reservoir slightly upstream of the dam
would be an ideal site for a shaft spillway.
Types of Spillways - Siphon Spillway
 Types of Spillways - Siphon Spillway
● As the name indicates, this spillway works on the principle of a siphon. A
hood provided over a conventional spillway forms a conduit. With the rise
in reservoir level water starts flowing over the crest as in an "ogee"
spillway.
● The flowing water however, entrains air and once all the air in the crest
area is removed, siphon action starts. Under this condition, the discharge
takes place at a much larger head.
● The spillway thus has a larger discharging capacity. The inlet end of the
hood is generally kept below the reservoir level to prevent floating debris
from entering the conduit.
● This may cause the reservoir to be drawn down below the normal level
before the siphon action breaks and therefore arrangement for de-priming
the siphon at the normal reservoir level is provided.
Types of Spillways - Free Over-Fall Spillway
Types of Spillways - Free Over-Fall Spillway
● As the name of the spillway indicates, the flow drops freely from the crest
of a free over-fall spillway. At times, the crest is extended in the form of an
overhanging lip to direct small discharges away from the downstream face
of the overflow section.
● The underside of the falling water jet is properly ventilated so that the jet
does not pulsate. Such a spillway is better suited for a thin arch dam
whose downstream face is nearly vertical.
● Since the flow usually drops into the stream bed, objectionable scour may
occur in some cases and a deep plunge pool may be formed.
● level to tail water level is less than about six metres.
Types of Spillways - Free Over-Fall Spillway
● If erosion cannot be tolerated, a plunge pool is created by constructing an
auxiliary dam downstream of the main dam. Alternatively, a basin is
excavated and it is provided with a concrete apron. When tail water depth
is sufficient, a hydraulic jump would form when the water jet falls upon a
flat apron.
● Free over-fall spillways are restricted only to situations where the hydraulic
drop from reservoir level to tail water level is less than about six meters.
 Types of Spillways - Tunnel Spillway
● Tunnel spillway discharges water through closed channels or tunnels laid
around or under a dam.
● The closed channels can be in the form of a vertical or inclined shaft, a
conduit constructed in an open cut and backfilled with earth materials, or a
horizontal tunnel through earth or rock.
● In narrow canyons with steep abutments as well as in wide valleys with
abutments far away from the stream channel, tunnel spillways may prove
to be advantageous. In such situations, conduit of the spillway can be
easily located under the dam near the stream bed.
 Energy Dissipators
● Bucket type energy dissipators
This type of energy dissipators includes the following: 1. Solid roller bucket 2.
Slotted roller bucket 3. Ski jump (Flip/Trajectory) bucket
● Since energy dissipators are an integral part of a dam’s spillway section,
they have to be viewed in conjunction with the latter.
● It must be remembered that any type of energy dissipator may go with any
type of spillway, depending on the specific site conditions.
● As water passes over a spillway and down the chute, potential energy
converts into increasing kinetic energy. Failure to dissipate the water's
energy can lead to scouring and erosion at the dam's toe (base). This can
cause spillway damage and undermine the dam's stability.
 Energy Dissipators Cont.
● Flip bucket
At the base of a spillway, a flip bucket can create a hydraulic jump and deflect
water upwards.
● Ski jump
A ski jump can also direct water horizontally and eventually down into a
plunge pool or two ski jumps can direct their water discharges to collide with
one another.
● Stilling basin
Third, a stilling basin at the terminus of a spillway serves to further dissipate
energy and prevent erosion. They are usually filled with a relatively shallow
depth of water and sometimes lined with concrete. A number of velocity-
reducing components can be incorporated into their design to include chute
blocks, baffle blocks, wing walls, surface boils or an end sill.
 Spillway Crest Gates
● Stop-logs/flash boards
Modern day stop-logs consist of steel frames that may be inserted into
grooves etched into piers and used during repair / maintenance of a regular
gate .The stop logs are inserted or lifted through the grooves using special
cranes that move over the bridge.
● Vertical lift gates
These are gates that moves within a vertical groove incised between two
piers .The vertical lift gates used for controlling flow over the crest of a
hydraulic structure are usually equipped with wheels, This type of gate is
commonly used for barrages but is nowadays rarely used for dam spillways.
Instead, the radial gates (discussed next) are used for dams
 Spillway Crest Gates
● Radial gates
These are hinged gates, with the leaf (or skin) in the form of a circular arc with
the center of curvature at the hinge. The hoisting mechanism shown is that
using a cable that is winched up by a motor placed on a bridge situated above
the piers.
● Ring gates
A cylindrical drum which moves vertically in an annular hydraulic chamber so
as to control the peripheral flow of water from reservoir through a vertical
shaft
● Stoney gate
A gate which bears on roller trains which are not attached to the gate but in
turn move on fixed tracks. The roller train travels only half as far as the gate .
 Spillway Crest Gates
● Sector gates
A pair of circular arc gates which are hinged on vertical axis in a lock .These
gates are used in navigation locks where ships pass from a reservoir with a
higher elevation to one with a lower elevation.

● Inflatable gates
These are gates which has expandable cavities. When inflated either with air
or water it expands and forms an obstruction to flow thus effecting
control .Though these gates have not been commonly used in countries, it is
used quite often in many other countries because of its simplicity in operation
– However, they suffer from possible vulnerability from man-made damages.
 Spillway Crest Gates
● Falling shutters
Low head gates installed on the crest of dams, barrages or weirs which fall at
a predetermined water level. Generally these are fully closed or fully open,
that is, fallen flat, which are shown to operate using a hoist. However, in some
weirs, falling shutters have been provided earlier that are manually operated.
were equipped with falling shutters, some of which are still in use today

● Float operated gates

A gate in which the operating mechanism is actuated by a float that is pre-set
to a predetermined water level .These may be used as escape in canals or
even in dams to release water if it goes above a certain level considered
dangerous for the overall safety of the project.
 Spillway Crest Gates
● Two-tier gates
A gate used in two leaves or tiers which can be operated separately, but when
fully closed act as one gate. These types of gates are used to reduce the
hoist capacity or the lift of the gate
● Vertical gate
Similar to that used for crest type gates ,but usually for deep-seated purposes
like controlling flow to hydropower intake either the ones with roller wheels ,or
the sliding-type without any wheels are used.
● Deep-seated radial gates
These are low level radial outlet gates. These gates have sealing on top apart
from on all sides. They are located at sluices in the bottom portion of
dam .The hoisting arrangement is usually at the top but could also be
provided near the elevation of top seal to reduce hoist stroke.
 Spillway Crest Gates
● Two-tier gates
A gate used in two leaves or tiers which can be operated separately, but when
fully closed act as one gate. These types of gates are used to reduce the
hoist capacity or the lift of the gate
● Vertical gate
Similar to that used for crest type gates ,but usually for deep-seated purposes
like controlling flow to hydropower intake either the ones with roller wheels ,or
the sliding-type without any wheels are used.
● Deep-seated radial gates
These are low level radial outlet gates. These gates have sealing on top apart
from on all sides. They are located at sluices in the bottom portion of
dam .The hoisting arrangement is usually at the top but could also be
provided near the elevation of top seal to reduce hoist stroke.
 Profile Of Ogee Spillway
● The overflow type spillway has a crest shaped in the form of an ogee or S-shape
● The upper curve of the ogee is made to conform closely to the profile of the lower
nappe of a ventilated sheet of water falling from a sharp crested weir .
● Flow over the crest of an overflow spillway is made to adhere to the face of the
profile by preventing access of air to the underside of the sheet of flowing water.
● Naturally, the shape of the overflow spillway is designed according to the shape of
the lower nappe of a free flowing weir conveying the discharge flood.
● Hence, any discharge higher than the design flood passing through the overflow
spillway would try to shoot forward and get detached from the spillway surface,
pressure between the sheet of water and spillway surface get detached from the
spillway surface, which reduces the efficiency of the spillway due to the presence of
negative pressure between the sheet of water and spillway surface.
 Profile Of Ogee Spillway
Ogee crested control structures are also sensitive to the upstream shape and hence,
three types of ogee crests are commonly used and shown in Figure 21. These are as
follows:
1. Ogee crests having vertical upstream face
2. Ogee crests having inclined upstream face
3. Ogee crests having over hang on up stream face
 Profile Of Ogee Spillway
1. Ogee crests with vertical upstream face

The downstream profile of the ogee crest may confirm to the following equation:
 Profile Of Ogee Spillway
2. Ogee crests with sloping up stream face

● In this case, the desired inclination of the upstream face is made tangential to the
same elliptical profile as provided for a crest with a vertical face.
● The downstream face equation remains unchanged.
 Profile Of Ogee Spillway
3. Ogee crests with overhang
THANK YOU!
WEEK 13
LECTURE 2 :
HYDRAULIC
GATES